From Heartbreak to Hope: One Story Behind Don’t Forget the Dudes

By Michelle Warren, Co-Founder and Mother of Sage

On May 18, 2020, my world changed forever.

That afternoon, I received a call from my husband, one I assumed was just to tell me he was heading home. Instead, it was the call that shattered our family. I was told that our oldest son, Sage, had passed away.

That day remains unforgettable, yet so much of that time was a blur—the hours that followed, the days leading up to his funeral.

Sage was an incredible son, a loyal friend, and a protective brother. He lived big in his 21 short years, and he loved even bigger. He was an exceptional athlete, playing football, baseball, and basketball throughout his school years. He had a deep love for music, and our family’s kitchen was often transformed into a dance floor for impromptu parties filled with laughter and joy.

Sage had a magnetic presence. When he walked into a room, people felt seen, like they truly mattered. His heart was huge, especially for those who needed a friend most.

But behind his confidence, Sage struggled. He battled addiction, a disease that so many face but so few talk openly about. In 2019, Sage entered rehab at Cumberland Heights, and my husband and I had the privilege of seeing a version of our son that radiated peace, clarity, and all the beautiful gifts sobriety can bring.

Tragically, it took just one bad night to take his life. Sage relapsed and, unknowingly, purchased a drug laced with fentanyl. It’s hard to believe that just one judgment call, one night, can take away a lifetime of moments we’ll never get back.

It’s been five years now, and there are still days that paralyze me with disbelief that my sweet boy isn’t here. But in my heart, I know he is.

I’ve watched my husband and our two other sons walk through grief in their own ways. And while I was surrounded and supported by other moms who had lost children, women who carried me through the darkest days, they didn’t have that same community.

Women are naturally equipped with compassion, empathy, and nurturing hearts. Men, on the other hand, are often taught to be strong, independent, and courageous. Those traits are beautiful and necessary, but what I’ve learned through the men in my life is that they can also lead to deep sadness, isolation, and anxiety when men feel they must grieve alone.

I couldn’t fix their pain, as much as I wanted to. But I could acknowledge it. I could help create a space where men feel seen, supported, and not alone in their struggles.

And God, in His goodness, opened a door for that.

In November 2024, I was introduced to an incredible couple, Paul and Beth Frankenberg, and an extraordinary mom, Jamie Heard, who had also lost her son, William. Through them, I was presented with an idea—an opportunity—to build something that would provide hope and healing for men facing any kind of hardship: grief, addiction, illness, divorce, unemployment, or any storm life brings.

That idea became Don’t Forget the Dudes (DFD).

What began as a simple platform to pray for and encourage men has become a growing community, a safe haven for those who might otherwise struggle in silence. A place where men can connect with others who get it, who have been there, or who simply want to offer a helping hand and a listening ear.

Every step of this journey, I’ve felt Sage with me. His spirit, his heart, and his compassion are woven into every piece of DFD.

While Sage may not be here physically, his presence surrounds us every day, and he remains a heartbeat of this mission.

Don’t Forget the Dudes was born out of unimaginable loss and hardship for all of us in different ways, but it has blossomed into a movement of hope, faith, and connection. My son’s story continues through every prayer, every message, and every life touched.

This one’s for you, Sage.

You will never be forgotten. 💙